One to two foot California native plants that can be used as groundcovers.

Arctostaphylos John Dourley

A one foot high groundcover for small gardens. Part-shade inland, full sun near coast.

Arctostaphylos purissima Petite Margarite is a very small manzanita for very small spots. That little corner along the walk where you need a low evergreen plant.

Artemisia californica Canyon Gray  is excellent in heavy adobe soils near the coast.

Baccharis pilularis pilularis Santa Ana is another lawn replacement,that is green but  drought tolerant.

Carex praegracilis is a green lawn-like groundcover. Carex commonly grows in seasonally wet spots that go dry in summer.

Ceanothus thyrsiflorus repens is a prostrate Ceanothus with lots of attractive sky blue flowers.

Elymus triticoides a creeping lawn that loves areas that are wet in spring, dry in summer.

Eriogonum parvifolium a creeping buckwheat that grows on coastal bluffs and back into some of the inland valleys. Where the salt spray gets to it Cliff buckwheat can be less than a foot tall.

Haplopappus squarrosus a small bushy plant covered with clusters of yellow flowers that takes lots of heat and drought in inland areas..

Heuchera maxima. Island alum root is a good edging plant in a shady border or small shady groundcover.

Heuchera micrantha. This Alum Root is a 1' perennial with a 2' spike of very dainty white flowers, a hundred or so spikes at a time on a happy plant.

Iva hayesiana is an evergreen groundcover in warm winter areas, deciduous in colder areas.

Mahonia repens is a pretty showy groundcover for inland gardens, and looks best with afternoon or full shade.

Mimulus guttatus, Seep monkey flower can fill in a wet spot in a garden.

Salvia Daras Choice makes a green groundcover with blue flowered spikes.

Salvia leucophylla Pt. Sal. Got a coastal bluff with heavy clay and no water?

Salvia munzii is a delightful little sage from San Diego that is very effective on small sun covered slopes.

Salvia spathacea Powerline Pink makes an interesting groundcover that throws up a a stunning flower spike in part shade.

Salvia spathacea Topanga is another groundcover for the shade.

Satureja chandleri is a delightful little sub-shrub that smells great.

Solanum xanti, purple nightshade can work as a great groundcover additive for extra color.

Vitis californica, California grape makes a great groundcover on the grapevine, (I-5)

Zauschneria californica mexicana grows throughout much of California, making a groundcover in rock outcroppings.